With nine weeks of action in the books, the 2017 Clausura has officially reached its halfway point. So we asked our experts Tom Marshall, Nayib Moran and Cesar Hernandez to dish out their title favorites and biggest surprises before laying out what you can't miss in Week 10!
Title favorites
Tigres
The Nuevo Leon side has three wins and two draws in its last five games and has only conceded twice. After a sluggish start, the team is back in form. Given Tigres' strength and experience in playoffs, I'd put them as favorites against any other side in Liga MX. -- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup)
No one will deny that Tigres have had a slow start to the Clausura, but if there's any team that understands how to take advantage of Mexico's short-season format, it's them. With Eduardo Vargas adapting quickly and Andre-Pierre Gignac's late heroics, the Monterrey side will be unstoppable come May. -- Nayib Moran (@nayibmoran)
Pachuca
Los Tuzos have the best defense in the league, a highly talented core of young Mexican players and a current spot at No. 2 in the league table. Knowing that a good defense can take you quite far in the title chase, I'm thinking that Pachuca has a great chance to win a championship. -- Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol)
Biggest surprise
Clubs having patience with managers
Ricardo La Volpe is still at 13th-placed Club America, Javier Torrente has remained at last-placed Leon, Paco Jemez is being given time at struggling Cruz Azul and Alfonso Sosa is still at 17th-placed Necaxa. Sure, there have been three managerial changes so far in Liga MX, but it has been a refreshing surprise to see clubs sticking with their coaches. -- Marshall
Leon's poor first half of the Clausura
After a fantastic close to the 2016 Apertura, there was reason to believe that Torrente's team would to take off in the Clausura, but this hasn't been the case. Through nine games, Leon has been unable to find the right XI, and players like Elias Hernandez and Luis "Chapo" Montes are not even near their best form. The clock is ticking and as of now, a Leon appearance in the Liguilla seems unlikely. -- Moran
Last season's finalists struggling
After nine matches, Tigres and America have found themselves outside of the top eight places. There's still plenty of time for them to make a late push for the playoffs, but it's startling to see the 2016 Apertura finalists with only three wins each. -- Hernandez
What you can't miss this weekend
Leaders Chivas' trip to Tigres
Chivas' trip north to face Tigres is one of the best matchups of the Clausura regular season and comes at a time when the reigning champions are starting to regain their swagger. This is another major test for Matias Almeyda's side and given the team takes the game to the opposition as part of its DNA, it should be an open affair between two title contenders. -- Marshall
More Liga MX minutes for Lainez
This is bound to become one of the Clausura's main storylines, especially if Diego Lainez (16) goes on to claim an important role with Club America like Edson Alvarez (19) before him. Lainez's apparition has reawakened spirits among the crowd. Once again, the americanistas have a reason to go to Estadio Azteca; they want to see what the youngster is all about. -- Moran
Relegation candidates fight for points
Friday night's Veracruz vs. Puebla battle is set to be a fascinating one between two relegation contenders. Be sure to also keep an eye on Pachuca vs. Morelia and Chiapas vs. Leon, with both Morelia and Chiapas eager to get some much-needed points and distance themselves from a spot in the second division this weekend. -- Hernandez
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